Fastener structure

ABSTRACT

A fastener structure comprising a connection member, a fastener and a rotation member. The connection member has an active portion having a first magnetic member, the fastener has a housing having one end thereof provided with a limit portion, and the rotation member is rotatably pivotally connected to another end of the housing. The rotation member has a fourth magnetic member, when a connection portion of the connection member is engaged with and fastened in the limit portion for fixing, the rotation member rotates and enables the fourth magnetic member to be magnetically attached and fixed to the first magnetic member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a structure, and more particularly to a fastener structure.

B) Description of the Prior Art

Connection structures for common daily necessities are often made of screw lock structures, since such screw lock structures are more time-consuming and inconvenient during assembling or disassembling, some manufacturers have proposed another type of connection structures. The connection structures have two magnetic members which are capable of magnetically attaching to and combining with each other, and although such type of connection structures can be quickly assembled or disassembled by using the two magnetic members, the two magnetic members are easily separated by pulling by external forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastener structure including a fastener and a connection member which are mutually engaged and fastened, further including a rotation member provided on the fastener, by using a magnetic member of the rotation member and a magnetic member of the connection member for magnetic attachment and fixing, the connection member can be quickly connected to the fastener or detached from the fastener, and the connection member can be stably assembled with the fastener.

With respect to said object, the present invention provides a fastener structure, comprising: a connection member, a fastener and a rotation member, in which the connection member includes an active portion and a connection portion connected to one side of the active portion, another side of the active portion is provided with a first magnetic member; the fastener includes a housing, the housing has one end thereof provided with a limit portion, one end of the limit portion is provided with a first opening, the housing has another end thereof provided with a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion which are opposite to each other; the rotation member has a base portion and an extended portion which are mutually connected, the base portion is pivotally connected between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion and is rotatable, the rotation member has a bottom portion thereof provided with a second magnetic member, a third magnetic member is provided, below the housing, correspondingly to the second magnetic member, a free end of the extended portion has one end thereof provided with a fourth magnetic member, wherein the active portion of the connection member is engaged with and fastened in the limit portion, the connection portion is penetrated forwardly out of the first opening, the rotation member is rotated to enable the fourth magnetic member to be near or abutted against a position of the first magnetic member of the connection member, and the fourth magnetic member is magnetically attached and fixed to the first magnetic member, so as to enable the active portion of the connection member to be fixed in the limit portion.

When the connection member and the fastener of the fastener structure of the present invention are assembled, the active portion of the connection member is engaged with and fastened in the limit portion of the fastener, the connection member is penetrated out of the first opening and then the rotation member is rotated, so as to enable the fourth magnetic member of the rotation member to be magnetically attached and fixed to the first magnetic member of the active portion. The above-mentioned structures and assembling modes enable the connection member to be quickly assembled with or separated from the fastener, and the connection member is enabled to be stably assembled with the fastener without being easily separated by external forces by means of the engaged fastening and magnetic attachment structures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a sectional schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a top schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an action schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an action schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is an action schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a usage schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a sectional schematic view showing a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a top schematic view showing a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an action schematic view showing a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is an action schematic view showing a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C is an action schematic view showing a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To facilitate better understanding and recognition of the characteristics and effects of the present invention by the examiner, the following preferred embodiments and accompanying explanations are described as follows: firstly, refer to FIGS. 1A, 1B, the fastener structure of the present embodiment includes a connection member 10, a fastener 20 and a rotation member 30, wherein the connection member 10 includes an active portion 12 and a connection portion 14 connected to one side of the active portion 12, the active portion 12 is a sphere and a position on another side of the active portion 12 opposite to the connection portion 14 is provided with a first magnetic member 16; and the connection portion 14 is a column which has the width thereof less than that of the active portion 12, a hole 142 is provided on a free end of the connection portion 14. Refer to FIG. 4 , an extended member 40 can be provided in the hole 142, and the extended member 40 can be a keychain, a safety belt, shoe laces, a pet leash or a hanger.

The fastener 20 includes a housing 22, one end of the housing 22 is provided with a limit portion 221, one end of the limit portion 221 is provided with a first opening 223, the width of the first opening 223 is less than the width of the active portion 12. Another end of the housing 22 has two opposite sides thereof respectively provided with a first fixing portion 225 and a second fixing portion 227, the middle of the housing 22 is provided with a middle portion 226, an upper side of the middle portion 226 has an entrance and exit port 2261, and the entrance and exit port 2261 is communicated with a space between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227; a passage 2262 is present in an internal portion of the middle portion 226 and an internal portion of the limit portion 221, the passage 2262 enables the active portion 12 to slide forward and backward therein, one end of the passage 2262 is communicated with the first opening 223, an upper position of another end of the passage 2262 is communicated with the entrance and exit port 2261, an upper side in the periphery of the passage 2262 has a first slit 2263, the width of the first slit 2263 is less than the width of the passage 2262 and the width of the active portion 12, the width of the first slit 2263 is greater than the width of the connection portion 14, one end of the first slit 2263 is communicated with the first opening 223, another end of the first slit 2263 is communicated with the entrance and exit port 2261.

The rotation member 30 has a base portion 30A and an extended portion 30B which are mutually connected, the base portion 30A is pivotally connected to the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227 by means of two shafts, so as to enable the base portion 30A of the rotation member 30 to be able to rotate. In another preferred embodiment, a shaft 32 can be used to pivotally penetrated through the base portion 30A, the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, such that the base portion 30A is rotatably and pivotally connected between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, the extended portion 30B is a column and is connected to the base portion 30A, a bottom portion of the base portion 30A is provided with a second magnetic member 34, a lower position of the housing 22 which corresponds to the second magnetic member 34 is provided with a third magnetic member 24, the third magnetic member 24 is used to be magnetically attached to the second magnetic member 34 and can be used to temporarily fix a position of the rotation member 30, and a fourth magnetic member 36 is provided on a free end of the extended portion 30B of the rotation member 30.

When the connection member 10 is assembled with the fastener 20, the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is engaged with and fastened in the limit portion 221, the connection portion 14 is penetrated out of the first opening 223, the rotation member 30 is rotated to enable the fourth connection member 36 to be abutted against or near a position of the first magnetic member 16 of the connection member 10, by employing the magnetic attachment and fixing mode between the fourth magnetic member 36 and the first magnetic member 16, the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is fixed in the limit portion 221, so as to enable the connection member 10 to be quickly and stably assembled with the fastener 20.

Since magnetic pieces can attract metals or satisfy the principle of magnetic repulsion between the same polarity and magnetic attraction between different polarity. In the present embodiment, a magnetic polarity of the first magnetic member 16 facing towards the fourth magnetic member 36 can be configured to be the S pole or the N pole, and the fourth magnetic member 36 is configured to be made of iron, which can be attracted magnetically, or a magnetic polarity of the fourth magnetic member 36 facing towards the first magnetic member 16 can be configured to be a magnetic polarity opposite to the S pole or the N pole. In the present embodiment, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic member 16 and the fourth magnetic member 36 can be further adjusted. By rotating the rotation member 30 to change an applied force required by the fourth magnetic member 36 to be separated from the first magnetic member 16, thus enabling a user to rotate the rotation member 30 to release the connection member 10 by using a smaller force, and enabling the connection member 10 to be quickly separated from the fastener 20.

Refer to FIGS. 2A to 2C, the following actual examples are used to explain the use modes of the fastener structure of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the user connects the extended member 40 shown in FIG. 4 to the hole 142 of the connection member 10, and then places the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 into the passage 2262 from the entrance and exit port 2261, the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is adjacent to the base portion 30A of the rotation member 30.

Subsequently, refer further to FIG. 2B, the user moves the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 towards the direction of the first opening 223 and then forwardly rotates the connection portion 14, during the movement process, the connection portion 14 passes through the first slit 2263, and the active portion 12 is finally engaged with and fastened in the limit portion 221, the connection portion 14 is forwardly extended out of the first opening 223, the first magnetic member 16 is facing backwards and towards the direction of the base portion 30A. The rotation member 30 is forwardly rotated subsequently, so as to enable the second magnetic member 34 to be freed from a state of magnetic attachment and separated from the third magnetic member 24, and enable the extended portion 30B to be rotated forwardly together with the fourth magnetic member 36, the fourth magnetic member 36 enters into a rear side of the passage 2262 from the entrance and exit port 2261, the fourth magnetic member 36 is near or abutted against the first magnetic member 16 of the connection member 10, so as to enable the fourth magnetic member 36 of the rotation member 30 to be magnetically attached to the first magnetic member 16, and fix the connection member 10 to render same incapable of rotating. In addition, the passage 2262 leading to the entrance and exit port 2261 at the back of the active portion 12 is also closed by the extended portion 30B, such that the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is quickly and stably engaged with and fastened in the limit portion 221 of the housing 22 for fixing.

Finally, refer further to FIG. 2C, when the user wants to separate the connection member 10 from the fastener 20, the rotation member 30 is firstly backwardly rotated 180 degrees, so as to enable the second magnetic member 34 and the third magnetic member 24 to be magnetically attached again, the rotation member 30 is temporarily fixed to the housing 22 to render same incapable of rotating, and then the connection member 10 is rotated to enable the connection portion 14 to exit the first opening 223, and enable the active portion 12 to move backwards along the passage 2262 and to the entrance and exit port 2261 for removal, such that the connection member 10 is quickly separated from the fastener 20.

Refer to FIG. 3 , which shows another embodiment of the present invention, structures for the connection member 10, the fastener 20 and the rotation member 30 are mostly identical to those in the previous embodiment, and the identical parts will not be described in further details here. The differences between the present preferred embodiment and the previous embodiment lie in respect of: a lower position of the middle portion 226 of the housing 22, which corresponds to the first magnetic member 16, is provided with a fifth magnetic member 26, after the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 enters into the housing 22 from the entrance and exit port 2261, the connection member 10 can be temporarily fixed by employing the mode of using the fifth magnetic member 26 to be magnetically attached to the first magnetic member 16, so as to prevent the connection member 10 from loosening, dropping or being lost from the fastener 20. A position on another side of the base portion 30A opposite to the second magnetic member 34 can be further provided with a sixth magnetic member 38, when the rotation member 30 is rotated to enable the fourth magnetic member 36 to be magnetically attached to the first magnetic member 16 of the connection member 10, the sixth magnetic member 38 can be mutually and magnetically attached to the third magnetic member 24 for fixing, such that the magnetic attachment and fixing between the rotation member 30 and the connection member 10 is free from influences by external forces, and prevent the fourth magnetic member 36 of the rotation member 30 to be out of the state of magnetic attachment to the first magnetic member 16.

In the present embodiment, the housing 22 further includes a second opening 229 provided on an outer side between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, the second opening 229 and the first opening 223 are respectively located at two opposite ends of the housing, a protruded member 222 is provided and extended outwardly at the other end of the housing 22 which has the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, and a through hole 224 is provided on the protruded member 222.

Refer further to FIG. 4 , a fixing fastener 50 can be fixed to the through hole 224, and another side of the fixing fastener 50 can be used to fix a rope or a collar of a pet, the through hole 224 can not only be connected to the fixing fastener 50, and also be connected to various objects such as rings, fasteners or connection members, and the protruded member 222 and the through hole 224 thereof can also be applied to the other embodiments of the present invention.

Refer to FIGS. 5A, 5B, which show a further embodiment of the present invention, in which the fastener structure also includes a connection member 10, a fastener 20 and a rotation member 30, wherein the connection member 10 includes an active portion 12 and a connection portion 14 connected to one side of the active portion 12, the active portion 12 is a sphere and a position on another side of the active portion 12 opposite to the connection portion 14 is provided with a first magnetic member 16; and the connection portion 14 is a column which has the width thereof less than that of the active portion 12, a hole 142 is provided on a free end of the connection portion 14.

The fastener 20 includes a housing 22, one end of the housing 22 is provided with a limit portion 221, one end of the limit portion 221 is provided with a first opening 223, the width of the first opening 223 is less than the width of the active portion 12. Another end of the housing 22 has two opposite sides thereof respectively provided with a first fixing portion 225 and a second fixing portion 227, the middle of the housing 22 is provided with a middle portion 226, an upper side of the middle portion 226 has an entrance and exit port 2261, and the entrance and exit port 2261 is communicated with a space between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227.

a passage 2262 is present in an internal portion of the middle portion 226 and an internal portion of the limit portion 221, the passage 2262 enables the active portion 12 to slide forward and backward therein, one end of the passage 2262 is communicated with the first opening 223, an upper position of another end of the passage 2262 is communicated with the entrance and exit port 2261, an upper side in the periphery of the passage 2262 has a first slit 2263,The width of the first slit 2263 is less than the width of the passage 2262 and the width of the active portion 12, the width of the first slit 2263 is greater than the width of the connection portion 14, one end of the first slit 2263 is communicated with the first opening 223, the other end of the first slit 2263 is communicated with the first opening 223.

FIGS. 5B, 6A show that, a lower position of the middle portion 226 of the housing 22, which corresponds to the first magnetic member 16, is provided with a fifth magnetic member 26, after the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 enters into the housing 22 from the entrance and exit port 2261, the connection member 10 can be temporarily fixed by employing the mode of using the fifth magnetic member 26 to be magnetically attached to the first magnetic member 16, so as to prevent the connection member 10 from loosening, dropping or being lost from the fastener 20. a protruded member 222 is provided and extended outwardly at the other end of the housing 22 which has the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, and a through hole 224 is provided on the protruded member 222.

the rotation member 30 has a base portion 30A and an extended portion 30B which are mutually connected, in the present preferred embodiment, the toggling shape 30C is tooth-like. A shaft 32 is used to pivotally penetrated through the base portion 30A, the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, such that the base portion 30A is pivotally connected between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, and the toggling shape 30C is protruded out of a range between the first fixing portion 225 and the second fixing portion 227, such that when the toggling shape 30C is toggled, the toggling shape 30C drives the rotation member 30 to rotate.

The extended portion 30B is a column and is connected to a top side of the base portion 30A, a free end of the extended portion 30B is provided with a fourth magnetic member 36. A bottom portion of the base portion 30A is provided with a second magnetic member 34, a lower position of the housing 22 which corresponds to the second magnetic member 34 is provided with a third magnetic member 24, the third magnetic member 24 is used to be magnetically attached to the second magnetic member 34 and temporarily fix a position of the rotation member 30, when the third magnetic member 24 is magnetically attached to the second magnetic member 34, the extended portion 30B is located on an upper side of the base portion 30A, and the toggling shape 30C is located on a rear side of the base portion 30A.

As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6B, during uses of the present embodiment, the extended member 40 shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the hole 142 of the connection member 10, and then the fixing fastener 50 shown in FIG. 4 is fixed to the through hole 224 of the fastener 20, and the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is placed into the passage 2262 from the entrance and exit port 2261. At this moment, the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is adjacent to the base portion 30A of the rotation member 30. Subsequently, the user moves the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 towards the direction of the first opening 223 and then forwardly rotates the connection portion 14, during the movement process, the connection portion 14 passes through the first slit 2263, and the active portion 12 is finally engaged with and fastened in the limit portion 221, the connection portion 14 is forwardly extended out of the first opening 223, the first magnetic member 16 is facing backwards and towards a position of the base portion 30A.

Refer to FIGS. 6B, 6C, the user then forwardly toggles the toggling shape 30C,The rotation member 30 is forwardly rotated subsequently, so as to enable the second magnetic member 34 to be freed from a state of magnetic attachment and separated from the third magnetic member 24, and enable the extended portion 30B to be rotated forwardly together with the fourth magnetic member 36, the fourth magnetic member 36 enters into a rear side of the passage 2262 from the entrance and exit port 2261, the fourth magnetic member 36 is near or abutted against the first magnetic member 16 of the connection member 10, so as to enable the fourth magnetic member 36 of the rotation member 30 to be magnetically attached to the first magnetic member 16, and fix the connection member 10 to render same incapable of rotating. In addition, the passage 2262 leading to the entrance and exit port 2261 at the back of the active portion 12 is also closed by the extended portion 30B, such that the active portion 12 of the connection member 10 is quickly and stably engaged with and fastened in the limit portion 221 of the housing 22 for fixing.

When the user wants to separate the connection member 10 from the fastener 20, the user backwardly toggles the toggling shape 30C to enable the rotation member 30 to be backwardly rotated 90 degrees, so as to enable the second magnetic member 34 and the third magnetic member 24 to be magnetically attached again, the rotation member 30 is temporarily fixed to the housing 22 to render same incapable of rotating, and then the connection member 10 is rotated to enable the connection portion 14 to exit the first opening 223, and enable the active portion 12 to move backwards along the passage 2262 and to the entrance and exit port 2261 for removal, such that the connection member 10 is quickly separated from the fastener 20.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, in addition to configuring magnetic polarities of the second magnetic member 34 and the third magnetic member 24 to be mutually magnetically attractive polarities, the magnetic polarities of the second magnetic member 34 and the third magnetic member 24 can also be configured to be mutually magnetically repulsive polarities, such that the third magnetic member 24 of the housing 22 prevents, by means of the mutually repulsive magnetic force with respect to the second magnetic member 34, the rotation member 30 from rotating backwards to near 90 degrees, and if removal of the connection member 10 from the fastener 20 is required, the user needs to hold onto the fastener 20 by one hand and continues in a state of backwardly toggling the toggling shape 30C, so as to keep the entrance and exit port 2261 to be in a continuously opened state, and then removes the connection member 10 from the fastener 20 by using the other hand. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastener structure, comprising: a connection member, a fastener and a rotation member, wherein: the connection member comprises an active portion and a connection portion connected to one side of the active portion, another side of the active portion is provided with a first magnetic member; the fastener comprises a housing, wherein the housing has one end thereof provided with a limit portion, one end of the limit portion is provided with a first opening, the housing has another end thereof provided with a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion which are opposite to each other; the rotation member has a base portion and an extended portion which are mutually connected, the base portion is pivotally connected between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion and is rotatable, the rotation member has a bottom portion thereof provided with a second magnetic member, a third magnetic member is provided, in a lower position of the housing, correspondingly to the second magnetic member, a free end of the extended portion is provided with a fourth magnetic member; wherein the active portion of the connection member is engaged with and fastened in the limit portion, the connection portion is penetrated forwardly out of the first opening, the rotation member is rotated to enable the fourth magnetic member to be near or abutted against a position of the first magnetic member of the connection member, and the fourth magnetic member is magnetically attached and fixed to the first magnetic member, so as to enable the active portion of the connection member to be fixed in the limit portion.
 2. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein a lower position of the housing, which corresponds to the first magnetic member, is provided with a fifth magnetic member.
 3. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a second opening provided on an outer side between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.
 4. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein the housing has a protruded member provided and extended outwardly at another end thereof which has the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.
 5. The fastener structure of claim 4, wherein the protruded member is provided with a through hole.
 6. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein the connection portion is provided with a hole.
 7. The fastener structure of claim 6, further comprising an extended member fixed to the hole.
 8. The fastener structure of claim 7, wherein the extended member is a keychain, a safety belt, shoe laces, a pet leash or a hanger.
 9. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein a sixth magnetic member is further comprised, which is provided in a position on one side of the base portion opposite to the second magnetic member.
 10. The fastener structure of claim 1, wherein the base portion is provided with a protruded toggling shape, the toggling shape is protruded out of a range between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion. 